A Gainsborough care home has closed after an inspection which found problems including its residents being at risk of abuse.”
An inspection report into the facility notes numerous issues at the home, including nails being left on the floor during renovation work.
Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited Serenity House, based on North Warren Road, last August and the report based on this inspection has just been published.
It rates the home as being inadequate and places it into special measures, but the care home provider then informed the CQC after its inspection that the service was to close.
The CQC report described Serenity House as a residential care home that could have provided support for up to 15 people, although six people were being cared for at the time of inspection.
Inspectors only examined the care home in terms of whether it was safe and well-led, after receiving concerns about “the environmental and fire safety risks, health and safety risks and leadership of the service.”
In terms of safety, the report noted: “There were significant risks and dangers to people due to the ongoing building renovations.
“There were ill-fitted fire doors and fire exits. There were nails on the floor, sharp edges, exposed floors and uneven surfaces which posed risk of trips or falls.
“Electrical cables were not secured and presented a ligature risk. Windows were not secure or safe. Some windows were missing, ill-fitted and were not fitted with restrictors to deter unwanted intruders.
“Machinery and garden tools were not stored securely outside and could be easily accessed. The provider had not taken sufficient action to reduce risks to people.”
In terms of the prevention and controlling of infection in the facility, which was previously known as the North Warren Care Home, the report says: “There was dust, dirt and debris throughout including on clothing and bed linen. There was new and old exposed plastered walls and exposed floor boards. There was significant infection control risks in the laundry room.
“There was damp and mould in the corridor and carpet which had extended to an occupied bedroom. Soft furnishing and sofas were dirty and fabric on the chairs had damaged outer covers.
“This meant people and staff were exposed to the risk of cross infection, which could cause serious harm.”
In terms of whether the service was well-led, the report says that oversight of it was “fragmented” , that “systems to maintain and monitor health and safety issues within the service remained ineffective” and that “people were not always protected from the risk of abuse.”
The report closes by saying that after the CQC inspection: “The provider announced the service was to close. The provider and staff continue to support people and work with the local authority to ensure people move to suitable provision of care in a planned way.”
The report also says that as well as receiving notice about the closure of the home, the CQC decided to cancel the provider’s registration.
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